Questions On Pascal 's Wager

In this paper I will be discussing Pascal’s Wager. What I first plan to do in this paper is explain the argument of Pascal’s Wager. Next I will explain how Pascal tries to convince non-theists why they should believe in God. I will then explain two criticisms in response to Pascal’s argument. Finally, I will discuss whether or not these criticisms show Pascal’s reasoning to be untenable.

In Kelly James Clark’s Article “Without Evidence or Argument”, Clark argues that belief in God, does not require the support of evidence or argument in order for it to be rational. Clark’s argument is against W.K. Clifford’s article “The Ethics of Belief”, in which Clifford claims that everything must be believed only on the basis of sufficient evidence (139). Throughout Kelly Clark’s article he states many things that support his conclusion of belief without evidence or argument, however, my paper will only discuss what Clark says on p.139 starting with the paragraph “The first problem with Clifford’s…” and the following paragraph, ending with the words “...to see why.”

In this essay I will discuss the ontological problem of the existence of God and discuss Pascal’s Wager and how it solves the issue. The problem with the proof of the existence of God is that it is not something we will know for sure until our dying day. We can speculate and bet on his existence and “feel” his presence but at this point it is just that, only a bet. This wager is famous for opening up minds to look at the problem in a bigger picture. The problem with the existence of God is not in the answer but instead in the question. Pascal is responsible for refocusing this discussion on God to the bigger problem of the existential context of human life. In a way this can all be broken down to very black and white terms “Either God is or he is not.” But upon looking further we realize that this is a much bigger issue with many grey areas than something as simple as ‘is or is not’.

ABSTRACT: The dispute between fideists and rationalists seems intractable since those who argue for faith alone claim that they are offended by the use of reason in religion. The advocates of reason claim that they are equally offended by the appeal to faith. This dispute may be resolved by showing that those who rely on faith may be seen as engaging in an experiment of living, so they can become part of a rational experiment without having to alter their practice; in contrast, those who use reason to justify religion can be seen as addressing a spiritual need. From an evangelical point of view, it would be wrong to disparage the mathematician’s use of the mathematical proof of God’s existence (such

In this philosophical paper I will be referencing the works of Blaise Pascal’s, “The Wager”, Simon Blackburn’s “Pascal’s Wager”, and Linda Zagzebski’s “Pascal’s Wager: An Assessment”. I will be comparing Pascal’s beliefs with the beliefs of Blackburn and Zagzebski as they discuss different ways to believe in God and if believing in God is a gamble on ones after-life, or simply just religious preference. I will discuss the works of these three philosophers and explain how their works may correlate and differ. The question presented in Pascal’s work is still relevant, being over 350 years old, and still left unsolved. Even though times are much different and technology is much more advanced than when Pascal presented this work in the mid 1600’s.

The wager is neatly-structured and clearly explained, each conclusion is supported by the premises and they all make sense from a structural-level point of view. Yet, it is a bold attempt to clarify belief in God not with an appeal to evidence for his existence but rather with an appeal to self-interest. Pascal’s wager seeks to justify Christian faith by considering

In this paper, I will evaluate blackburn's objection to how he deems Pascal’s use of notion "metaphysical ignorance" as a problematic starting position to arrive the conclusion of Pascal's Wager argument. In “Metaphysical ignorance”, which refers to the idea that Pascal posits in the beginning of his Wager argument, that we know neither what God is nor what kinds of attributes and properties God has. As a result of this knowing, Pascal sets out four options to wager, which is four possible consequences of belief or disbelief whether God exists or not, by implying us to choose the one which offers eternal happiness and gains; However, the options are flawed since Blackburn thinks Pascal can not assume there is an eternal gain or loss especially

The Wager, as introduced by Blaise Pascal, addresses the hypothesized outcomes for all possibilities regarding God’s existence. I think that following Pascal’s instructions and choosing to believe in God because it may give you the most rewards in return is not beneficial because believing in anything without proper support for the claim is problematic and may lead to unintended consequences. Additionally, I think Pascal’s suggestion should not be followed because the guarantee of a more developed lifestyle and what we know to be certain now should overpower and be viewed as more important than the slight possibility of achieving a rewarding eternal afterlife. In this essay I will first explain Pascal’s general viewpoints expressed throughout

In Pascal’s Wager I think had to objection raised is to believe in god openly for the reward is the

Groups criticize Pascal’s wager and try to argue that it is an insufficient way to believe in god if you are doing it out of self-interest. They believe if an individual chooses to live a spiritual life it should be with pure intentions. Who are these people to judge if the intentions are acceptable? The only qualified being to decide if the reason for believing is adequate enough is the god one chooses to believe in. He explains to people that god is inconceivable, “So we may well know that there is a God without knowing what He is”

James(1897) argues that certain actions and convictions need pre-existing beliefs which do not require sufficient evidence. He uses Pascal’s Wager as an example – James (1897) argues Pascal’s Wager may force individuals in choosing to either believe in God or not, regardless of there being sufficient evidence to prove the existence of the former or latter. However, James (1897) argues that different propositions

Pascal’s wager states if we believe in God and He exists, we have everything to gain, eternal happiness and truth in Heaven. If we believe and He does not exist then we will neither gain or lose anything. If we do not believe in God and He exists then we will receive an eternal punishment in Hell. If we do not believe and He does not then we will have neither gain or lose anything. Either receiving an infinite reward in heaven or gaining and losing nothing is clearly preferable to either

In the article by The Economist on minimum wages titled “A Reckless Wager” the author starts out by taking the liberty to explain how a minimum wage can actually have a positive impact on the economy. The author even mentions the fact that there have been many studies in both the United States as well as Britain, which have revealed that low levels of minimum wage do not cause job loss. However, the author also admits in the beginning of the article that “Big rises in minimum wages are a gamble with people’s futures.”

     Pascal goes on to state that once we have made this rational decision to believe in God then we start to act like we believe in this god and from practicing these actions habitually your belief will strengthen Pascal, 78). The problem here lies in the basis of the strength for this belief. To make a decision and then act on that decision seems pretty consistent; but, to make a decision and have that decision become a belief based on habitual actions does not follow at all. Is this belief that your holding to a product of sincerity of habit? If you start to act you

In questioning the existence of God, the ideology of fideism is used to in support the existence of God with the use of faith. Opposed to other various views, fideism relies on the use of faith and/or revelation rather than depending single-handedly on reason alone. Blaise Pascal is a French philosopher that approaches the doctrine and beliefs of fideism using his “wager” argument to confirm the concept that there is a monotheistic God in existence (269).